Hydrides of nickel coordination compounds

ABSTRACT

Hydrides of nickel coordination compounds of the general formula HNi(MYZ)n X where M is P, As or Sb, Z is R or OR, where R is a hydrocarbyl radical of up to 18 carbon atoms or a hydrocarbyl radical of up to 18 carbon atoms substituted with any of -Cl, -Oor -CN, where Y is two Z&#39;&#39;s or either -R&#39;&#39;- or -O-R&#39;&#39;-O-, where R&#39;&#39;- is a divalent hydrocarbylene radical of from two to 12 carbon atoms, n is 3 or 4, and X is an anion of a protonic acid, particularly HSO4 , Cl , Br , Cn , CF3COO , AlCl4 , or ZnCl2CN or BF4 and the process of preparing these hydrides from the corresponding nickel complex and acid as well as the process of isomerizing 3-pentenenitrile to 4-pentenenitrile using the hydrides.

United States Patent Drinkard, Jr. et al.

[54] HYDRIDES OF NICKEL COORDINATION COMPOUNDS [72] Inventors: William C. Drinkard, Jr., Wilmington; Richard V. Lindsey, Hockessin, both of Del.

[73] Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company,

Wilmington, Del.

[22] Filed: July 6,1970

[2i] Appl.No.: 52,701

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 847,442, Aug. 4,

1960, Pat. No. 3,538,l42, which is a continuation-inpart of Ser. No. 682,623, Nov. 13, 1967, abandoned.

[ 51 July 11,1972

3,328,443 '6/1967 Clark et al. ..'...260/439 3,270,087 8/1966 Heck ..260/683.9

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Chatt et al. Proc. Chem. Soc. 1957 p. 343 Green et al. Z. Naturporsch 14b 1959) p. 738 Cariati et al. Chem. and lnd. London 1964, p. 1714- 17l5 Primar Examiner-Tobias E. Levow Assistant Examiner-A. P. Demers Artorney-William A. Hofiman [5 7] ABSTRACT l-lydrides of nickel coordination compounds of the general formula HNi(MYZ),, X' where M is P, As or Sb, Z is R or OR, where R is a hydrocarbyl radical of up to 18 carbon atoms or a hydrocarbyl radical of up to 18 carbon atoms substituted with any of --Cl, O or CN, where Y is two Zs or either R' or OR-O-, where -R' is a divalent hydrocarbylene radical of from two to 12 carbon atoms, n is 3 or 4, and X- is an anion of a protonic acid, particularly H50 Cl. Br-, Cu", CF COO-, AlCLr, or ZnCl CN- or BF, and the process of preparing these hydn'des from the corresponding nickel complex and acid as well as the process of isomerizing 3-pentenenitrile to 4-pentenenitrile using the hydrides.

16 Claims, No Drawings HYDRIDES OF NICKEL COORDINATION COMPOUNDS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 847,442 filed Aug. 4, 1969, by William C. Drinkard, Jr. and Richard V. Lindsey, Jr., now U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,142, issued Nov. 3, 1970, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 682,623 filed Nov. 13 1967, by the same inventors and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Nickel coordination complexes derived from nickel tetracarbonyl by the replacement of all four carbonyls with an arsine, arsenite, stibite, stibine, phosphite or phosphine are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,443, issued June 27, 1967 to Reginald F. Clark, et al. These complexes are further disclosed as being useful in the dimerization, trimerization and polymerization of butadiene.

The present invention relates to hydrides of nickel coordination compounds having the general formula HNi(MYZ),,X wherein M is selected from the class consisting of P, As and Sb, wherein Z is selected from the class consisting of R and OR wherein R is selected from the class consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals of up to 18 carbon atoms and hydrocarbyl radicals of up to 18 carbon atoms substituted with groups selected from the class consisting of Cl, O, and CN, whereby Y is selected from the class consisting of two Zs and groups of the formula R' and ORO wherein R'- is a divalent.hydrocarbylene radical of from two to 12 carbon atoms, wherein n is an integer of from 3 to 4, and X is the anion of an acid. The various Rs in a given compound may be the same or different. These compounds are generally prepared in solution by treating a compound of the formula l\1i(MYZ) wherein M, Y, and Z have the meanings defined above, with an acid of the general formula IIX to attach a proton directly to nickel to give a compound of the formula HNi(MYZ), XCl-lc.

Suitable anions for use as X" generally include the anionic portion of a protonic acid, such as H80 Cl, CF COO', AICIf, Br, CN', ZnCl CN or BFf. The acid may have sufficient inherent strength in the parent acid to form the hydride, or the acid strength of weak acids may be enhanced by the addition of Lewis acids.

The solvent is not critical and any liquid capable of dissolving the nickel complex starting material may be used. Generally, organic solvents such as benzene, toluene, pxylene, acetone, 3-pentenenitrile, chloroform, nitrobenzene, ether, methyl ethyl ketone, adiponitrile, 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, dioxane, triphenyl phosphite, tritolyl phosphite, or tetrahydrofuran may be used.

The nickel complex being used and the acid being used are generally reacted at from -50 to 150C. to form the hydrides. The reaction time is not critical and the reaction appears to begin immediately on contact of the acid and the nickel complex with completion of hydride formation generally occurring within about five minutes. The solvent'can readily be removed by applying a vacuum to the solution. The hydrides of the present invention are not particularly thermally stable and therefore the solvent generally should be removed by applying the vacuum at a temperature below 25C. and preferably below C. The amount of vacuum applied is not particularly critical and may be any pressure of from about 1 micron of mercury up to the vapor pressure of the solvent being used at the temperature being used. Generally, a pressure of less than one-half atm. is preferred.

The hydrides of the present invention are best identified by nuclear magnetic resonance according to the principles explained on pages 127-135 of Advances in Inorganic Chemistry and Radio-chemistry," Volume 7, by H. J. Emeleus and A. G. Sharpe published by Academic Press, New York and London, (1965). Perhaps the best indication of the Ni-I-I bond is the resonance in the area of 12-451- and particularly -301- as set forth on page 127 of this work.

The hydrides of the present invention are useful as catalysts in the isomerization of olefins such as isomerizing 3-pentenenitrile to 4-pentenenitrile, and in the hydrocyanation of organic compounds having ethylenic carbon-carbon unsaturation. This isomerization of olefins generally can be carried out at from 50" to 200C. and preferably at from 0 to 120C. in the liquid phase. If desired, an inert diluent may also be employed but its use is not preferred generally.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS EXAMPLE I This Example is carried out in a dry box under a nitrogen gas blanket using diethyl ether solvent and 3-pentenenitrile which have been deoxygenated by bubbling nitrogen gas therethrough under a nitrogen atmosphere.

A round bottom, 25 ml glass flask equipped with a gas outlet for solvent stripping gas purge and a Teflon covered magnetic stirring bar is charged with 5 ml. of diethyl ether into which is dissolved 0.73 g. (l mmole) of Ni[P(OC H The solution is cooled to about 50C. by partially immersing the flask in an acetone bath cooled with dry ice. An ether solution of 0. 10 g (l mmole) concentrated sulfuric acid in 5 ml. of diethyl ether at about 50C. is added to the solution in the flask. A cloudy yellow solution then forms in the flask. The diethyl ether is removed into a liquid nitrogen cooled trap under a pressure of l0 atm. while rapidly stirring and allowing the acetone bath to gradually warm to 20C. The final solventfree hydride product, 0.83 g., is a waxy yellow solid at 20C.

The product prepared above is allowed to remain in the flask and 8.14 g. mmoles) of 3-pentenenitrile free of 4- pentenenitrile cooled to -l0C. is added to the flask. The acetone bath now is maintained at -30C. The hydride dissolves completely to give a bright yellow solution. The solution is allowed to warm gradually over a period of 45 minutes at which time a temperature of 25C. is reached. As the solution warms, the color gradually turns to a deep reddish orange.

Gas chromatographic analysis indicates that the flask contains cis and trans 3-pentenenitrile and 4-pentenenitrile, with no appreciable amounts of the conjugated 2-pentenenitrile.

The similarly prepared hydride is characterized in other preparations. Most important, the proton NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectrum of the solvent-free hydride redissolved in dichloromethane shows a symmetrical quintet at 19.5 ppm to high field of solvent dichloromethane (24.11) J =25 cps (cycles per second). The infrared spectra of the dichloromethane solution and of the neat compound pressed between sodium chloride plates show a band at 1970 cm attributed to the nickel hydrogen stretching vibration. The assignment is confirmed by preparing the corresponding deuteride from D 80 and finding a major reduction in the intensity of the 1970 cm band. This indicates the presence of the compound l-INi[P(OC,l-I HS0,.

The hydride is a yellow waxy oil at room temperature which darkens gradually on standing even under a blanket of nitrogen gas. It tums green within minutes on exposure to air. It is soluble in dichloromethane and methanol but insoluble in diethyl ether or petroleum ether. The solubility properties of the hydride are consistent with an ionic organometallic compound. In contrast the starting Ni[P(OC I-I is quite soluble in all four solvents mentioned.

EXAMPLE II A solution containing 0.515 g. of Ni[P(OC I-I in 0.5 ml of benzene is prepared in a 5 ml. glass vial in a nitrogen atmosphere at ambient temperature. The solution is transferred to a sealed NMR tube equipped with a serum cap and microliters of pure CF co l-l is added. A modified I-IA-lOO Varian NMR spectrometer is used to scan the proton region from the 20 to 30 ppm region. A quintet centered at 24.471 with a splitting coupling constant of J 27 cps. is observed. Such a multiplet requires that the hydride hydrogen be split by EXAMPLE III A solution of 0.514 g. of Ni[P(OC l-i in 0.50 ml. of benzene is prepared in a 5 ml. glass vial in a nitrogen gas atmosphere at ambient temperature. The solution is transferred to a sealed NMR tube equipped with a serum cap. Fifty-six microliters of liquid hydrogen cyanide are added and the solution analyzed using a modified l-lA-lOO Varian NMR Spectrometer. A quartet centered at 26.87r with a splitting constant of 29 cps is observed. Such a multiplet requires that the hydride hydrogen be split by three equivalent phosphorus atoms. Thus the hydride has the formula l-lNi[P(OC l l CN.

EXAMPLE IV A solution containing 0.516 g. of Ni[P(OC H 0.097 g. of ZnCl 50 microliters of benzene (for NMR reference) and 0.50 ml of tetrahydrofuran is prepared in a 5 ml glass vial in a nitrogen gas atmosphere at ambient temperature. The solution is transferred to a sealed NMR tube equipped with a serum cap. Fifty microliters of liquid hydrogen cyanide is then added to the solution.

A modified l-lA-l Varian NMR spectrometer is used to analyze the solution. Two multiplets are observed. One is a quintet centered at 24.271- with a splitting constant J 29 cps. The other is a quartet centered at 26.321- with a splitting constant J 29 cps. The quintet is at essentially the same position as the quintet found for the hydride of Example II. The quartet is at essentially the same position as the quartet found for NHi[P(OC CQ5) CN (Example 111). This Example illustrates that a Lewis acid (ZnCl increases the strength of the HCN to aid in formation of l-lNi[P(OC H CN hydride.

EXAMPLE V A solution containing 0.516 g. of Ni[P(OC l-l 0.097 g of ZnCl 50 microliters of benzene (for NMR reference), and 0.50 ml of tetrahydrofuran is prepared in a 5 ml glass vial in a nitrogen atmosphere. The solution is transferred to a sealed NMR tube equipped with a serum cap and 50 microliters of liquid hydrogen cyanide is added. An IR (infrared) cell is filled with this solution, using a syringe. Using a reference cell containing tetrahydrofuran an IR spectrum is obtained with a Perkin-Elmer Infrared Spectrometer. Peaks are found in the CN stretching region at 2,085 cm, 2,100 cm and 2,130 cm. The latter three peaks result from CN in different environments to be expected from the following nickel hydride species.

EXAMPLE VI A solution containing 0.58 g. of

EXAMPLE Vll A solution containing 0.34 g. of Ni[P(OC,H and 0.5 ml of benzene is prepared in a 5 ml glass vial sealed with a serum cap under a nitrogen atmosphere at ambient temperature. Nineteen microliters of liquid hydrogen cyanide are added to the solution after which an infrared cell is filled with the solution by means of a syringe. Using a reference cell containing benzene, an IR spectrum is recorded with a Perkin-Elmer lnfrared Spectrometer. In the CN stretching region peaks are observed at 2,085 cm (unassociated HCN) and 2,130 cm". The latter peak results from CN in a different environment as to be expected in the compound HNi[P(OC,l-l CN.

EXAMPLE Vlll A solution containing 0.302 g. of

0.033 g. of ZnCl and 0.5 ml of tetrahydrofuran is prepared in a 5 ml glass vial ina nitrogen atmosphere at ambient temperature. The solution is transferred to an NMR tube equipped with a serum cap, and 30 microliters of liquid hydrogen cyanide are added. The solution is analyzed using a modified HA-IOO Varian Spectrometer. A quartet centered at 25.51- with coupling constant J 30 cps is observed. This multiplet requires that the hydride hydrogen be split by three equivalent phosphorus groups as in HNi[P(O-O similar:

EXAMPLE [X In a nitrogen atmosphere a solution is prepared in an NMR tube by dissolving 0.16 g. of Ni[PC,,l-l (0C H in CDCl to a total volume of 0.5 ml. Tetramethylsilane is added as an internal reference. The tube is capped and chilled to 78C. in a Dry lce/Triclene bath. Twelve microliters of concentrated sulfuric acid are added to the tube by means of a syringe. The solution is shaken and a proton NMR spectrum run at 0C. A sharp hydride quintet resonance at 23.41- (J 22.5 cps) indicates the presence of l-lNi[PC l-l (OC H HSO,.

EXAMPLE X In a nitrogen atmosphere a solution is prepared in an NMR tube dissolving 0.85 g. Ni[lC.,l-l,,(OC,l-l,(OC l-l in CH,C1 to a total volume of 0.5 ml. With the addition of microliters of l-lCN the color of the solution turns brown and the P NMR spectrum contains a new resonance, doublet, at 39.0 ppm from P 0 0 30 cps), assigned to the phosphorus resonance in HNi[PC l-l (OC H CN. The proton NMR spectrum of the same solution showed the expected hydride quartet at 26.4 (J P 33 cps). The infrared spectrum of the same solution showed the presence of an absorption of 2,113 cm due to CN in l-lNi[PC H (OC H,,) CN.

EXAMPLE XI In a nitrogen atmosphere a solution is prepared in an NMR tube by dissolving Ni[P(0Cl-l Cl-l Cl) in CDCl to a total volume of 0.5 ml. Tetramethylsilane is used as an internal reference. The tube is capped and chilled to -78C. in dry ice.

[(C H QPCH CH HC H Ni is prepared by reduction of [(C H Q PCH CI'I IKC I-l NiBr with NaBH,,. Tetramethylsilane is used as an internal reference in recording the proton NMR spectra.

EXAMPLE XII A 500 ml. round-bottom flask is charged with 5.0 g (5.9 mmole) of [(C H PCH CH P(C H Ni, and 150 ml. toluene. Upon addition of 0.8 g. (6.0 mmoles) of sublimed AlCl a dark brown oil forms. The mixture is degassed and 6.0 mmoles of anhydrous HCl is condensed into the flask. The mixture is then stirred at 25C. for 20 hours during which time an orange precipitate has formed. The precipitate is collected and extracted with 90 ml of tetrahydrofuran and 90 ml of toluene is added to the orange-red filtered extract. The solution is kept at 25C. for 18 hours after which the orange prisms which have formed are collected, washed with toluene and dried at 25C. under 0.1 micron Hg pressure for 2 hours to give 3.9 g (65%) of [(C H PCH CH,P(C H ],NiH(AlCl,), m.p. 198-203C. Analysis calculated for C H AlCl NiP C, 61.0; H, 4.8; A1, 2.6; Cl, 13.8; Ni, 5.7; P, 12.1. Found: C, 60.7; 11,4.9; A1, 2.6; CI, 13.8;Ni, 5.7;P, 11.9.

The infrared spectrum of the crude product shows 1 at 1950 cm as a single absorption, but the recrystallized sample shows two bands at 1,949 and 1,916 cm". Solution infrared spectra in CHCl and tetrahydrofuran shows only one weak, broad absorption at 1950 cm". The high field proton NMR spectrum of the recrystallized sample shows Ni-I-I at 22.95'r in tetrahydrofuran, 23.071- in CD CI and 23.001- in CH OH. The fine structure is resolved only in CH OH as a quintet with I 6 cps.

EXAMPLE XIII A mixture of AgBF (0.5 g, 2.6 mmoles) and 20 ml of 1,2- dimethoxyethane is degassed in a flask under vacuum. Anhydrous HCl (3.0 mmoles) is condensed into the flask and the mixture is stirred at 25C. for 1 hour. The resulting solution of I-IBF, is filtered, to remove AgCl, directly into a solution of [(C H ,,PCH CH P(C H Ni (1.95 g., 2.3 mmoles) in 50 ml. of 1,2-dimethoxyethane. The yellow solution rapidly turns organe, and an orange crystalline solid is precipitated. After stirring the mixture at 25C. for 1 hour, the crude product is collected, extracted with a total of 800 ml. of hot tetrahydrofuran, and the filtered extract is concentrated to 100 ml. under vacuum. After storage at 20C. for 65 hours, the solution is filtered, the orange crystalline solid is washed with tetrahydrofuran, and dried at 25C. under 0.1 micron of Hg pressure for 16 hours to give 1.1 g (51%) of[(C H.,),PCH CH,P(C H NiH (BF m.p. 190C. Calculated analysis for C, 65.9; H, 5.4; F, 7.7; Ni, 6.1; P, 13.9.

The infrared spectrum (Nujol mull) shows Vm at 1,950 cm in addition to bands characteristic of BF and (C,,H,,) PCH CH (C H,) the proton NMR spectrum shows Ni-H at 23.017 in CD Cl solution; no fine structure is observed.

EXAMPLE XIV Anhydrous HCl (16.5 mmoles) is condensed into a degassed solution of [(C H ),PCH,CH,P(C H Ni (5.0 g. mmoles) in ml. of toluene. After being stirred at 25C. for 3 hours the orange precipitate which has formed is collected, washed with toluene and dried at 25C. under 0.5 micron Hg pressure for 16 hours to give 5.3 g. (96%) of orange [(C H PCH,CH,P(C H NiH(HCl m. p. darkens l45C., decomposes C. Calculated Analysis for C l-I Cl NiP C, 67.2 H, 5.4; CI, 7.7; Ni, 6.3; P, 13.3. Found: C, 66.7; H, 5.2; C], 8.2;N, 6.3; P, 13.3. Attempts to recrystallize this product lead to decomposition.

The infrared spectrum (Nujol mull) shows v at 1,934 cm" in addition to bands characteristic of (C H PCH CH P (C H In the proton NMR spectra of fresh CD Cl s0luti0ns, the resonance observed at 3.22r (area l) is assigned to the HCl; anion while an unresolved Ni-H resonance appears at 23.021- (area =1).

EXAMPLE XV A solution of 0.2 g.

in 0.7 ml. toluene is prepared in a 5 ml. glass vial in a nitrogen atmosphere at ambient temperature. The solution is transferred to a sealed NMR tube equipped with a serum cap. The NMR tube is placed in a Dry ice acetone bath and 20 micro-liters of pure liquid HCN are added. The NMR tube is placed in the sample tube holder of a modified HA-100 Varian NMR spectrometer. The proton region is scanned from 20 to 30 ppm ('r) with the tube being initially cooled to 60C. The quartet is centered at 25 .001" with a splitting coupling constant of J 36 cps. Such a multiplet requires that the hydride hydrogen be split by three equivalent phosphorous groups. This indicates the presence of the compound Examples XVI to XXVII further illustrate the hydrides of this invention. Examples XVI to XXII are made by the method illustrated in EXample IV; EXamples XXIII to XXVIII are by the method of Example XI. All samples are prepared in a TABLE I Lewis acid Solvent Nickel compound HON, Temper- Com- Com- Milli- Quintet Quartet Exampll Complex Grams ml. ature pound Grams pound liters 1 J(cps.) 1 J (cps.)

. Ni[P(OCzH );]4 0.28 27 Ambient B0; 0.18 CHaC N 0. 5 24. 37 27.0 26. 40 33.0 Ni[P(OCzII ].1 0. 28 27 .60.- B03 0. 00 THF 0. 5 24.34 26.0 26.37 30.0 Ni[P (0021-15): 4 0. 28 0.19 THF 0. 5 24. 30 26.0 26. 20 30. 0 XIX Ni[P(OCzH5):1 4 0. 28 0.05 THF 0. 5 24.34 26.0 26. 08 30.0 XX Ni[P(OCzII5)s] 0. 28 0.11 THF 0. 5 24. 38 26.0 26.12 30. 0 0. 28 0.11 CHaCN 0. 5 24. 66 26.0 25. 82 24. 0 0.28 0.05 CHsCN 0.5 24. 60 26.0 26.60 30.0 j} 0.25 0.. CaHs 0.5 26.10 34.0 1 0.26 35 -10 C- ZnClz 0.08 CHQON 0.5 26.82 36.0 XXV Nil(Ci-.II5)2PC1I;1]1 0.26 35 Ambient" ZIlClz 0. 08 THF 0. 5 27. 06 34. 0 XXVI Nil(CalI5)zlOCH:1]4 0.28 35 d0 ZnOlz 0.08 OH3CN 1.0 25. 86 36.0

XX\'11 0.5 36 d0 B0; 0.16 THE 0.5 5.46 32.0

\X\lll Same as above 0.5 30 do AlCla 0.0 TIIF 0.5 25.30 34.0

nitrogen atmosphere; the solutions are transferred to NMR tubes by means of a syringe; the NMR tubes, sealed with serum caps, are analyzed at room temperature by means of a modified l-lA-lOO NMR spectrometer.

We claim:

1. A complex having the formula HNi(PZ X' wherein Z is selected from the class consisting of R and OR wherein R is selected from the class consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals of up to 18 carbon atoms and hydrocarbyl radicals of up to 18 carbon atoms substituted with groups selected from the class consisting of Cl and --O-, wherein n is an integer of from 3 to 4 and X is an anion of a protonic acid.

2. The complex of claim 1 wherein X is selected from the class consisting of H80 Cl, Br, CN, CF COO, AlCLf, ZnCI CN and BF{.

3. The complex of claim 2 wherein Z is R.

4. The complex of claim 2 wherein Z is OR.

5. The complex of claim 3 wherein R is alkyl.

6. The complex of claim 3 wherein R is aryl.

7. The complex of claim 4 wherein R is alkyl.

8. The complex of claim 4 wherein R is aryl.

9. A process of forming a hydride having the formula HNi(PZ ),,b?X' wherein Z is selected from the class consisting ofR and OR wherein R is selected from the class consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals of up to 18 carbon atoms, and hydrocarbyl radicals of up to 18 carbon atoms substituted with groups selected from the class consisting of --Cl and -O, wherein "n" is an integer of from 3 to 4 and X' is an anion ofa protonic acid which comprises contacting a compound having the formula Ni(l Z wherein Z and n have the meanings defined above; with a protonic acid of the formula HX' at from 50 to 150C.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein X' is selected from the class consisting of H Cl, Br, CN, CF COO, AICL', and ZnCl CN H. The process ofclaim 10 wherein Z is R.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein Z is OR.

13. The process ofclaim 11 wherein R is alkyl.

14. The process of claim 11 wherein R is aryl.

15. The process of claim 12 wherein R is alkyL 16. The process of claim 12 wherein R is aryl.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 676 475 Dated July 11, 1972 Inventor) William c. Drinkard, Jr. and Richard v. Lindsey It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 33, the formula "NHi[P(OC CQ,5) CN" should read --HNi[I (OC H CN-.

Column 5, line 10, that portion of the formula reading [(C H should read --[(C H line ll, that portion of the formula reading [(C6HA)2 should read [(C6H5)2--.

Column 5,- line 50, that portion of the formula reading [(C H should read --[(C H Column 6, line the formula "C H BFB -IN'lP should read Column 8, line 2, "HNl(Pz b?X'" should read Signed and sealed this 13th day of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLF,TCI-IER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

2. The complex of claim 1 wherein X is selected from the class consisting of HSO4 , Cl , Br , CN , CF3COO , AlCl4 , ZnCl2CN and BF4 .
 3. The complex of claim 2 wherein Z is R.
 4. The complex of claim 2 wherein Z is OR.
 5. The complex of claim 3 wherein R is alkyl.
 6. The complex of claim 3 wherein R is aryl.
 7. The complex of claim 4 wherein R is alkyl.
 8. The complex of claim 4 wherein R is aryl.
 9. A process of forming a hydride having the formula HNi(PZ3)n X wherein Z is selected from the class consisting of R and OR wherein R is selected from the class consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals of up to 18 carbon atoms, and hydrocarbyl radicals of up to 18 carbon atoms substituted with groups selected from the class consisting of -Cl and -O-, wherein ''''n'''' is an integer of from 3 to 4 and X is an anion of a protonic acid which comprises contacting a compound having the formula Ni(PZ3)n wherein Z and n have the meanings defined above; with a protonic acid of the formula H X at from -50* to 150*C.
 10. The process of claim 9 wherein X is selected from the class consisting of HSO4 , Cl , Br , CN , CF3COO , AlCl4 , and ZnCl2CN .
 11. The process of claim 10 wherein Z is R.
 12. The process of claim 10 wherein Z is OR.
 13. The process of claim 11 wherein R is alkyl.
 14. The process of claim 11 wherein R is aryl.
 15. The process of claim 12 wherein R is alkyl.
 16. The process of claim 12 wherein R is aryl. 